Scoring Spree
Ken Easthouse
Wednesday, December 6, 2006
Madison — The Olpe boys used a 23-9 second-quarter scoring streak to propel themselves over Madison 69-45 Tuesday night.
Madison matched Olpe point-for-point through most of the first quarter. Olpe only pulled ahead by more than two points at the end of the first quarter, when the Eagles held an 18-13 lead.
Something happened in between quarters.
Olpe opened the second quarter firing, going on a 10-0 run and holding the Bulldogs to just nine points.
“I think our depth wore them down a little bit,” Olpe coach Chris Schmidt said. “We were able to get some easy buckets.”
Both teams opened the game at a torrid pace, something Olpe had designed to wear down Madison.
“Madison isn’t very deep, so we figured if we got them tired and get a good lead on them we could put them away,” senior forward Seth Pargman said.
Bulldogs coach Mike Pitko said his team came out with more intensity in the second half, but by then it was too late.
“I thought we came back in the second half and played better defense and better intensity, but when you’re down by 20 at half it’s a big hole,” Pitko said.
In addition to wearing Madison out, Bulldog forward Michael Luthi was in foul trouble starting early in the second quarter, which opened up the inside game for Pargman and the Eagles. Pargman led the Eagles with 19 points.
“Once we got (Luthi) into foul trouble we were able to establish the post down low,” Pargman said.
Pitko said Luthi is still learning the post position — having played guard for the Bulldogs the year before — and is inclined to make a few mistakes until he is more comfortable with the switch.
“We moved him inside, so it’s kind of a new position,” Pitko said. “Learning how to play inside is a different way of playing.”
Pitko also said the Eagles’ high shooting percentage doomed his team.
“All their people shot well,” Pitko said, “and we weren’t able to match them,”
Eight different players scored for Olpe and several more contributed key minutes to the offensive sets, which rarely slowed the quick pace.
“I think some kids off the bench really stepped up and had a big game for us tonight,” Schmidt said.
Olpe girls 68, Madison 27
The Olpe girls basketball team had little difficulty scoring against Madison, as the Lady Eagles topped the Lady Bulldogs 68-27 Tuesday night at Madison.
Olpe coach Jesse Nelson credited rebounding as the main factor leading to the win.
“When we started going to the boards, I thought, is when we were much better,” Nelson said.
Olpe took control from the opening tip, starting the game with a 7-0 run.
Later, from the end of the first quarter into the second quarter, the Lady Eagles went on a 21-2 run by dominating the low post and slowing Madison’s main offensive threat, guard Morgan Stout.
First-year Madison coach Megan McGuire said that while Stout was able to score 15 points, the rest of the team needed to contribute if the team is going to score more points.
“Morgan is pretty good at getting open, and it’s going to be pretty hard to stop her,” McGuire said. “My main thing is we need to get some more people scoring.”
After halftime, Olpe subbed in its bench players in order to get other players experience.
“I think it’s nice to have good kids coming off the bench,” Nelson said.
Nelson, while pleased with the offensive effort, said his team needed to get in better shape if it was to have a successful season.
“None of the kids are in shape, and we certainly aren’t,” Nelson said.
While Olpe’s offense dominated, McGuire said it’s been worse in recent years.
“I’ve been here when we’ve gotten beat by 70 by Olpe,” McGuire said.